Our community has a generosity of spirit throughout the year. Here are good things happening in the area and opportunities to help organizations trying to make life brighter for people in need:

THANK YOU FOR GIVING

Autism Pensacola on target to celebrate successes

Sansing and his family of dealerships are the exclusive presenting sponsor for Steps for Autism. Sansing’s commitment is a two-year sponsorship toward the mission and programs of Autism Pensacola.

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Steps for Autism(Photo: Special to Pensacola News Journal)

“Mr. Sansing’s generous gift to Autism Pensacola has been a tremendous help in raising the awareness we need to further our mission,” said Cate Merrill, president and CEO of Autism Pensacola Inc. in a news release. “His philanthropy is well-known in our community, and we have been benefactors of his generosity for many years. The donation allows us to not only continue our programming to the community, but also enables us to develop other programs and events to support our families.”

Steps for Autism 2018 is a grassroots fundraising season where friends and family honor loved ones with autism, raise community awareness, as well as support the mission and programs of Autism Pensacola. The culminating event to celebrate the year’s successes is from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church, 6205 North W St.

Funds raised by Steps for Autism are used to increase community awareness, improve safety, and provide quality-of-life programs for those living with autism in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. One hundred percent of the proceeds from this family friendly event stay in the local area to support families affected by autism.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or starting a team, contact Autism Pensacola at 850-434-7171 or email steps@autismpensacola.org.

Soldier’s Wish, Subway say it's time for us to serve military

Soldier’s Wish and Subway restaurants in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Mobile, Alabama, kicked off a fundraising campaign Monday to grant wishes for local military heroes. Subway guests can donate a dollar amount of their choice when they make a purchase at participating restaurants and help wishes come true for our local troops and their families. All donations will stay in the community.

The mission of Soldier’s Wish is to identify and provide unmet needs for active-duty service members, veterans of military service and their families. Through donations, veterans receive essential items and services such as wheelchairs, home remodels, automobiles, computers and college tuition assistance.

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After the regional Solder's Wish campaign ends Oct. 20, a recipient will be chosen and a a formal presentation will take place honoring the hero. The event will be similar to the one pictured from another community in 2016.(Photo: Special to Pensacola News Journal)

“Veterans typically don’t like asking for help,” said retired Lt. Cmdr. Mark Ochsenbein, the volunteer executive director of Soldier’s Wish in a news release. “Soldier’s Wish is designed to help veterans who, for whatever reason, fall through the cracks and find it difficult to get some of the basic quality-of-life things they need.”

In addition to donating, Soldier’s Wish is asking for your help in identifying those in need. If you are aware of any such military hero, visit soldierswish.org/nominate-a-hero.

“It’s our turn to serve those who bravely served us,” said Tim Wheat, Subway advertising board chairman for this area.

The campaign runs through Oct. 20.

Cantonment Rotary helps school year get off to great start

On Aug. 11, Cantonment Rotary Club assisted with the Cantonment Improvement Committee’s back-to-school bash at Carver Park in north Escambia County. The event was held to prepare students in the area for the start of the new school year.

Families enjoyed lunch, games, playground activities and fellowship. The highlight of the event was the distribution of 200 backpacks filled with school supplies.

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Cantonment Rotary members serve burgers at a back-to-school bash at Carver Park in north Escambia County on Aug. 11, 2018.(Photo: Special to Pensacola News Journal)

The back packs, school supplies, hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch were donated by the Cantonment Rotary Club. Ascend Cares Community Outreach team also assisted with the event, and the Golden Elite Track and Field Club was present to provide opportunities for kids to get involved with the club’s athletic teams and activities.

Cantonment Rotary also provides resources to the Cantonment Improvement Committee in its support of education, through reading, tutoring and other activities.

EVENTS THAT HELP

Pensacola Humane Society to host vigil for departed pets

Pensacola Humane Society invites the public to a gathering at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, for Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day to honor pets who have died.

The event will be held in the courtyard of Pensacola Humane Society, 5 North Q St. Executive Director Jennifer Bitner will give opening remarks and then read the “Rainbow Bridge” poem. After a moment of silence, the public will be invited to recite the names of their departed pets. Vigil candles will be available for purchase for $1.

For more information, visit our the Pensacola Humane Society on Facebook.

Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary plans jewelry fundraiser

The sale will be held in the Administrative Classroom at Gulf Breeze Hospital from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, and Thursday, Aug. 30; and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31.

All items are $5, with profits going to patient care at Gulf Breeze Hospital, medical scholarships and community outreach projects.

Get tickets, sponsorships now for sportsmen banquet

The annual Sportsmen Givin' Back Banquet is set for Saturday, Sept. 15, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pace. The event will include dinner, door-prize drawings, a silent auction and guest speaker Clay Dyer, a motivational speaker and professional angler born without any lower limbs, no arm on the left side and a partial arm on the right.

This annual fundraising event allows Sportsmen Givin' Back to help out organizations and individuals in the community. Ticket packages include:

$15, includes dinner and speaker, entry into door-prize drawings and silent auction. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

$10, includes speaker, entry into door-prize drawings and silent auction. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

$10, raffle tickets for a chance to win a Daniel Defense DDM4V11 5.56 or a Tikka T3x Lite 308.

To purchase event and/or raffle tickets, contact Bryen Ballard at 850-232-0592 or bryenb2@icloud.com; or contact Scott at 850-393-9810 or fla_scout@yahoo.com.

Sportsmen Givin' Back plans to help out the following organizations with proceeds from the event:

Santa Rosa Bridges Out of Poverty

My Father's Arrows

Annalore Fendley, who was diagnosed with childhood leukemia in November

Danny Gilroy, who was diagnosed with transverse myelitis in 2017

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida

Pilots for Christ

Legacy Fields

Pregnancy Resource Center of Milton

For the Children of Milton

Sponsorships are also available by contacting Ballard. There are $5000, $2,500, $1,000 and “write your own amount” donor packages. All donations are tax deductible.

SPONSORS NEEDED

Stepping Out in Style Fashion Show seeking sponsors

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 42nd annual Stepping Out in Style Fashion Show, presented by the Women's Board of Baptist Health Care Foundation and Gulf Coast Health Care. The event is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 25, at Skopelos at New World. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Professional and local celebrity models will showcase the latest fashions from Bluetique; cabi by independent stylist, Jennie Barrow; The Market and Mainly Shoes; and The South Outfitters. In addition to the runway show, the event will feature both silent and live auctions, hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit The Meridian at Lakeview Center, which provides mental health treatment and substance abuse services for children between the ages of 7 and 17.